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Huntsville Otters

Canadian junior ice hockey team

Huntsville Otters
City	Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
League	Provincial Junior Hockey League
Conference	Northern
Division	Carruthers
Operated	1990–present
Home arena	Canada Summit Centre
Colours	Blue, Yellow, and White
General manager	Brian Crozier
Head coach	Jason Farnsworth “Farmer”
Franchise history
1990–1997	Muskoka Bears
1997–2004	Huntsville Wildcats
2004–2007	Huntsville-Muskoka Otters
2007–present	Huntsville Otters

The Huntsville Otters are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Huntsville, Ontario. Starting from the 2016-17 season the Otters are members of the Provincial Junior Hockey League. Prior to this change they were members of the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League after resigning from the Ontario Junior Hockey League in the Spring of 2012.

Joining the ranks of Junior hockey in 1990, the Muskoka Bears were a member of the Metro Junior A Hockey League. Prior to this, the team had played Junior C hockey.

The team made hockey history on February 21, 1997 when their goalie, Ryan Venturelli, became the first goaltender to score two goals (both empty-net) in a hockey game against the Durham Huskies during the Metro Junior A Hockey League 1996–97 regular season.^[1]

From 1997 until 2004, the franchise was called the Huntsville Wildcats. The team never truly found their groove, and folded halfway through the 2003–04 season after 23 straight loses and a goals-against average of roughly 10.

For the 2004–05 Season, the team reformed as the Huntsville-Muskoka Otters after Sherwood Bassin, Ray Irwin and Tom McCarthy took ownership.

In 2007, the team was sold to local businessmen Kris House and Jason Armstrong, who shortened the team's name to the Huntsville Otters.

The town of Huntsville hosted the 2011 Ontario Junior A Dudley Hewitt Cup on the weekend of April 18–23, 2011 at the Don Lough Arena, Canada Summit Centre. The Otters went 3-0, and received a bye to the final but lost the championship to the Wellington Dukes 5-3.

In March 2012, it was announced that the Huntsville Otters were to be contracted from the Ontario Junior Hockey League^[2] when a local group successfully applied to bring the team to the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.

MetJHL Years

• 1991 DNQ
• 1992 Lost semi-final

Muskoka Bears defeated St. Michael's Buzzers 4-games-to-3

Bramalea Blues defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-none

• 1993 Lost semi-final

Muskoka Bears defeated Aurora Eagles 4-games-to-2

St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-none

• 1994 Lost semi-final

Muskoka Bears defeated St. Michael's Buzzers 4-games-to-2

Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-2

• 1995 DNQ
• 1996 Lost quarter-final

Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-2

• 1997 Lost Preliminary

Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-none

• 1998 Lost Preliminary

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats 3-games-to-1

OJHL Years

• 1999 DNQ
• 2000 Lost Division Quarter-final

Collingwood Blues defeated Huntsville Wildcats 4-games-to-3

• 2001 Lost Division Quarter-final

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats 4-games-to-none

• 2002 Lost Division Quarter-final

Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Huntsville Wildcats 4-games-to-none

• 2003 DNQ
• 2004 Did Not Finish Season
• 2005 Lost Division Semi-final

Huntsville-Muskoka Otters defeated Collingwood Blues 4-games-to-1

Aurora Tigers defeated Huntsville-Muskoka Otters 4-games-to-2

• 2006 Lost Division Quarter-final

Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Huntsville-Muskoka Otters 4-games-to-1

• 2007 Lost Division Quarter-final

Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Huntsville-Muskoka Otters 4-games-to-1

• 2008 Lost Division Semi-final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Huntsville Otters 4-games-to-3

• 2009 Lost Conference Final

Huntsville Otters defeated Toronto Dixie Beehives 3-games-to-none

Huntsville Otters defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-2

Huntsville Otters defeated Orangeville Crushers 4-games-to-1

Kingston Voyageurs defeated Huntsville Otters 4-games-to-1

• 2010 DNQ OJAHL Playoffs
• 2011 Lost Qualifier, Hosted and Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup Final

Orangeville Flyers defeated Huntsville Otters 2-games-to-none

FirstinDudley Hewitt Cup round robin (3-0)

Wellington Dukes defeated Huntsville Otters 5-3 in final

• 2012 Lost Division Quarter-final

Markham Waxers defeated Huntsville Otters 3-games-to-none

• Otters Webpage